Warning after scammers target 72-year-old pensioner

Police in Wakefield are warning people to be on their guard after scammers purporting to be from Inland Revenue tried to con money from a pensioner.

Officers said that the 72-year-old received a call from an 020 (London) number and was told by a man that she had to pay over £600 of unpaid tax.

When the pensioner told him she had no way of paying by the cut-off date, he advised her to buy £600 worth of vouchers from a shop in Wakefield town centre and a courier would then collect the vouchers on his behalf.

The vulnerable and worried pensioner visited the shop and luckily, a concerned shop assistant contacted the police.

Officers are now investigating.

A spokeswoman said: “Please do not trust anyone that telephones you and asks for money or your bank account details or any personal details.

“Please also share this to warn others. We would not like to see anyone become a victim of this type of crime.”